- Email: [email protected]
The Aspergillus website — www.aspergillus.man.ac.uk
in ventilated patients. Chest 103547543. 5. Albert, S. et al. 1997. Role of quantitative cultures and microscopic examinations of endotracheal aspirates in the diagnosis of pulmonary infections in ventilated patients. J. Hosp. Infect. 37:25-37. 6. El-Ebiary, M. et al. 1993. Quantitative cultures of endotracheal aspirates for the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 148: 15521557. 7. Marquette, C.H. et al. 1993. Diagnostic efficiency of endotracheal aspirates with quantitative bacterial cultures in intubated patients with suspected pneumonia: comparison with protected specimen brush. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 148:138-144. 8. Jourdain, B. et al. 1995. Role of quantitative cultures of endotracheal aspirates
in the diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 152: 241-246. 9. Kirland, S.H. et al. 1997. The diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia: a comparison of histologic, microbiologic, and clinical criteria. Chest 112445-457. 10. Murray, P.R. and J.A. Washington. 1975. Microscopic and bacteriologic analysis of expectorated sputum. Mayo Clin. Proc. 50:339-344. 11. Bartlett, J.G. et al. 1987. Laboratory diagnosis of lower tract infections, p. 9-10. Cumitech 7A, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC. 12. Morris,A.J., D.C. Tanner, and L.B. Reller. 1993. Rejection criteria of endotracheal aspirates from adults. J. Clin. Microbial. 31:1027-1029.
13. Zaidi, A.K.M. and L.B. Reller. 1996. Rejection criteria for endotracheal aspirates from pediatric patients. J. Clin. Microbial. 34:352-354. 14. Hamilton et al. 1994. Developing rejection criteria: pediatric endotracheal specimens, abstr. C-167, p. 520. In Abstracts of the 94th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1994. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC. 15. Gilligan P., D. Hudspeth, and K. Gibson. 1996. Application of rejection criteria for tracheal aspirate specimens, abstr. C-68, p. 13. In Abstracts of the 96th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC.
Announcement
The Aspergillus Website Members of the genus Aspergillus cause more infections worldwide than any other molds. Aspergillus species, in particular Aspergillusfumigatus, cause allergic disease in asthmatics and patients with cystic fibrosis and aspergillomas in cavities left over from tuberculosis or other cystic lung disease. Invasive aspergillosis, most commonly seen in immunocompromised individuals, has increased in incidence by about 14-fold in the last 12 years. Even in treated patients, invasive aspergillosis has a crude mortality rate of 85%. The Aspergillus website was launched by the Fungal Research Trust in April 1998 and is hosted at the University of Manchester. The Fungal Research Trust is a charity promoting research into and education about fungal diseases and the Aspergillus website primarily aims to provide comprehensive medical and scientific information, in addition to a platform for discussion about pathogenic aspergilli. The site is focused towards scientific researchers and clinicians. However, the site also contains a lay person’s description of Aspergillus spp. in many different languages and the lay public is welcome to use the site’s facilities. The site provides information on diverse aspects of Aspergillus-related
Clinical Microbiology Newsletter 21:6,1999
www.aspergillus.man.ac.uk medicine and research previously available only at remote locations and contains nine main sections. i. The laboratory protocols section provides information on growth and storage of A. fumigatus plus many molecular genetic methodologies, such as transformation and DNA probe-based identification. In addition, clinically important laboratory methods are included, such as antifungal susceptibility testing and the measurement of serum antifungal concentrations. ii. The treatment information section contains detailed advice and information concerning the treatment of all forms of Aspergillus disease and is produced by leading clinicians in the relevant areas. . . 111. A DNA sequence data section provides up-to-date gene sequences for A. fumigatus, including alignments of genes that have been sequenced and submitted to DNA databases more than once. In the future, this section will be expanded to include sequence data for other pathogenic Aspergillus spp. iv. The research directory contains a sample grant application and a list of grants for which researchers
0 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.
interested in pathogenic can apply.
aspergilli
v. A useful links section lists important medical and scientific sites that Aspergillus website users may find interesting. vi. A discussion group section contains clinical and laboratory discussion groups and provides a forum for exchange of clinical and scientific information concerning pathogenic aspergilli. vii. Conference information gives details of forthcoming conferences relevant to the study of pathogenic aspergilli . viii. An image library contains images of Aspergillus spp., pathology slides of tissues infected with Aspergillus spp., and photographs and X rays of organs infected with Aspergillus spp. ix. A comprehensive Aspergillus bibliographic database contains 12,000 scientific references with abstracts. The database is updated every two weeks. It is hoped that this site will provide a valuable resource for people interested in pathogenic Aspergillus spp. and that the site will encourage and stimulate the exchange of information about pathogenic aspergilli worldwide.
0196-4399/99 (see frontmatter)
47
in the diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 152: 241-246. 9. Kirland, S.H. et al. 1997. The diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia: a comparison of histologic, microbiologic, and clinical criteria. Chest 112445-457. 10. Murray, P.R. and J.A. Washington. 1975. Microscopic and bacteriologic analysis of expectorated sputum. Mayo Clin. Proc. 50:339-344. 11. Bartlett, J.G. et al. 1987. Laboratory diagnosis of lower tract infections, p. 9-10. Cumitech 7A, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC. 12. Morris,A.J., D.C. Tanner, and L.B. Reller. 1993. Rejection criteria of endotracheal aspirates from adults. J. Clin. Microbial. 31:1027-1029.
13. Zaidi, A.K.M. and L.B. Reller. 1996. Rejection criteria for endotracheal aspirates from pediatric patients. J. Clin. Microbial. 34:352-354. 14. Hamilton et al. 1994. Developing rejection criteria: pediatric endotracheal specimens, abstr. C-167, p. 520. In Abstracts of the 94th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1994. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC. 15. Gilligan P., D. Hudspeth, and K. Gibson. 1996. Application of rejection criteria for tracheal aspirate specimens, abstr. C-68, p. 13. In Abstracts of the 96th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC.
Announcement
The Aspergillus Website Members of the genus Aspergillus cause more infections worldwide than any other molds. Aspergillus species, in particular Aspergillusfumigatus, cause allergic disease in asthmatics and patients with cystic fibrosis and aspergillomas in cavities left over from tuberculosis or other cystic lung disease. Invasive aspergillosis, most commonly seen in immunocompromised individuals, has increased in incidence by about 14-fold in the last 12 years. Even in treated patients, invasive aspergillosis has a crude mortality rate of 85%. The Aspergillus website was launched by the Fungal Research Trust in April 1998 and is hosted at the University of Manchester. The Fungal Research Trust is a charity promoting research into and education about fungal diseases and the Aspergillus website primarily aims to provide comprehensive medical and scientific information, in addition to a platform for discussion about pathogenic aspergilli. The site is focused towards scientific researchers and clinicians. However, the site also contains a lay person’s description of Aspergillus spp. in many different languages and the lay public is welcome to use the site’s facilities. The site provides information on diverse aspects of Aspergillus-related
Clinical Microbiology Newsletter 21:6,1999
www.aspergillus.man.ac.uk medicine and research previously available only at remote locations and contains nine main sections. i. The laboratory protocols section provides information on growth and storage of A. fumigatus plus many molecular genetic methodologies, such as transformation and DNA probe-based identification. In addition, clinically important laboratory methods are included, such as antifungal susceptibility testing and the measurement of serum antifungal concentrations. ii. The treatment information section contains detailed advice and information concerning the treatment of all forms of Aspergillus disease and is produced by leading clinicians in the relevant areas. . . 111. A DNA sequence data section provides up-to-date gene sequences for A. fumigatus, including alignments of genes that have been sequenced and submitted to DNA databases more than once. In the future, this section will be expanded to include sequence data for other pathogenic Aspergillus spp. iv. The research directory contains a sample grant application and a list of grants for which researchers
0 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.
interested in pathogenic can apply.
aspergilli
v. A useful links section lists important medical and scientific sites that Aspergillus website users may find interesting. vi. A discussion group section contains clinical and laboratory discussion groups and provides a forum for exchange of clinical and scientific information concerning pathogenic aspergilli. vii. Conference information gives details of forthcoming conferences relevant to the study of pathogenic aspergilli . viii. An image library contains images of Aspergillus spp., pathology slides of tissues infected with Aspergillus spp., and photographs and X rays of organs infected with Aspergillus spp. ix. A comprehensive Aspergillus bibliographic database contains 12,000 scientific references with abstracts. The database is updated every two weeks. It is hoped that this site will provide a valuable resource for people interested in pathogenic Aspergillus spp. and that the site will encourage and stimulate the exchange of information about pathogenic aspergilli worldwide.
0196-4399/99 (see frontmatter)
47